Baseball cleat



July 12, 1932. w, R 1,867,219

BASEBALL CLEAT Original Filed Jan. 26; 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. .Z. Y E5. 2.

July 12, 1932. 3 w HARPER 1,867,219

BASEBALL CLEAT Original Filed Jan. 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ELL 4m 4/ l B ATTORNEY Patented July 12, 193 2 UNITED STATES GEORGE W. HARPER, OF MCNEIL, ARKANSAS BASEBALL CLEAT Application filed January 26, 1928, Serial No. 249,560. Renewed July 17, 1929.

This invention relates to cleats for athletic shoes, especially the chisel type cleat used on baseball shoes, and has for its object to provide means for securing the cleats to the shoes L in a manner to prolong the life of the shoe and distribute sole flexibility so as to facilitate running and walking. Another object is to secure increased comfort to the wearer. The usual type of chisel cleats for baseball shoes stifl'ens the ball portion of the sole causing excessive bending of the sole just behind the group of cleats during use, with'the result that this localized flexure causes the sole to crack. Under this invention means are provided to overcome this disadvantage.

According to this invention sole stiffening means extend rea-rwardly from the group of cleats so as to avoid excessive flexure and cracking of the sole. In one embodiment the toe cleat is spaced from the angularly disposed pair of ball cleats so that flexure of the sole may occur within the group of cleats. With the rear of the ball portion stiffened and the sole able to flex transversely within the group of cleats, there is a tendency for a runner to be raised on his toes by this construction to increase his speed. To increase comfort the sole stiffening means is curved to give a permanent convexity to the sole. The heel cleats are connected so as to leave the central portion of the group open permitting the leather to sink into the opening to a small extent with use, thus providing a comfortable depression for the heel bone.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of this invention applied to a shoe sole. Fig. 2 shows the same type of heel cleat but a different construction for the ball and toe cleats. Fig. 3 shows still another construction for the ball and toe cleats.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the device of Fig. 3. In Fig. 1 numeral indicates a group of cleats comprising the usual toe cleat 11 and the angularly disposed ball cleats 12 and 13 all of the chisel type as is customary in athletic shoes for baseball players. Unlike the usual cleat construction a generally U-shaped connecting means 14 oins the cleats 12 and 13 and extends longitudinally rearwardiliy a substantial distance for the purpose of sti ening the shoe sole. Another generally U-shaped connecting means 17 also joins this same pair of cleats 12 and 13 but is inverted with respect to the first connecting means and has the toe cleat 11 attached. Rivets or other usual securing means 15 permanently attach the group of cleats to the shoe sole. An additional rivet or other securing means 16 is 10- cated at the base of the U-shaped connecting means 14 so as to anchor the sole to the stifiening means. j

The group 18 of heel cleats comprises the three chisel cleats 19, 20, and 21 substantially equidistantly spaced as shown in the draw ings and connected by sections 22 joining each pair of cleats and slightly arched outwardly from the center of the group so as to enable the central portion of the group to'be open as indicated at 23. This enables the leather to flex downwardly within the group permitting a comfortable depression to be formed for the heel bone; The usual rivets or other securing means are located as, illustrated.

The same type of heel cleats is used in Fig. 2 but a difierent construction is therejshown for the other cleats. The toe cleat 2A is separate from the angularly disposed cleats 25 and 26, but a somewhat similar U-shaped connecting means 27 secures the ball cleats 25 and 26 together. 7 As illustrated, one side 29 of the U-shaped connecting means is longer than the other. On a shoe for the other foot the opposite side of the U-shaped connecting means may be longer or if desired the same shape of connecting means may be used for each shoe thereby'cheapening production cost. A securing means 28 is located as shown on the drawings adjacent the rear of the half sole area so as to stiflenthe portion of the sole behind the group of cleats. When the toe cleat is spaced from the cleats 25 and 26 I the sole may flex transverselyin the space between thus facilitating a player in running.

In Fig. 3 is shown a construction somewhat similar to Fig. 2 except thatan additional bridge or connecting means 35 joins the upper ends of the U-shaped connecting means 33 to strengthen and stiffen the construction. The

I toe cleat 30 is spaced from the ball cleats 31 and 32 as before. Here again one side of the U-shaped connecting means 33 is longer than the other and a rivet or other securing means 37 fastens the sole to the base of the U-shaped' connecting means. Having one of the U- shaped connecting means longer-than the other permits a better distribution of the cleats than if arranged equidistantly. The

heel cleats throughout are'the same in all-v figures. Fig. 4 being the side view of Fig. 3 shows how the stiffening means or U-shaped connection 33 is curved so that when attached to the sole a permanent convexity is given the sole. This prevents the sole fiexure from being localized immediately behind the group of cleats. The spacing between the toe cleat and ball cleats in Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive permits transverse fleXure of the sole in this portion and sole flexure here, combined with the stiffening means behind the ball cleats helps aplayer to rise on his toes and facilitates runnlng, without being a hindrance in walking.

' As shown in the drawings the cleats in each.

figure are of the chisel type customarily for baseball shoes.

The cleats may be made of tempered steel of the customaryquality.

I claim: e 1. The combination with the ball portion of a shoe sole, of a pair of rearwardly converging cleats projecting downwardly from said sole portion at opposite sides thereof,

means adjacent said cleats tosecure the same to the sole portion, a rearwardly extending arch member connecting said cleats and engagin -the under surface of said sole portion, and means to secure said arch portion to the sole rearwardly of said cleats.

2. The combination with the ball portion of a'shoe sole, of a pair of rearwardly converging cleats projecting downwardlyfrom said sole portionat opposite sides thereof, means adjacent said cleats to secure the same to the.

sole portion, a rearwardly extending arch member connecting said cleats and engaging the under surface of said sole portion, means to secure said arch portion to the sole rearwardly of said cleats, a transversely extending cleat at the toe of saidjsole portion, stifi? ener bars connecting the last mentioned cleat with the respective cleats of said pair, and means to secure the transverse cleat to the sole portion at the toe part thereof.

V V In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE W. HARPER. 

